Chicago White Sox

I think there's a decent chance Victor Diaz starts the year in Kannapolis' rotation.

I'm hoping Hansen starts at high A, but I'd be ok with a short stint at Kannapolis.

Might be time for a thread title change.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 12:33 PM) Its not selling low its just selling. Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera are never going to be super hot commodities, you just get rid of them to save some money and maybe get back something. Everyone likes to talk a big game about moving in a new direction but when it comes to actually trading these guys suddenly the Sox are moving a bunch of MVP's that they "MUST GET VALUE" for. I dont get it, the further Todd Frazier and David Robertson are from this roster the better and that starts now. 100% disagree with you, especially on Frazier & Robertson. They could both be substantially more valuable come July. The only guy you can really make a case for dumping right now is Melky. And honestly, I don't even think a team would take on his entire salary right now. Might as well wait and see how he performs in a contract year if that's the case.

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 12:27 PM) I'm not sure Frazier or Abreu ever get a ton higher. I can see holding onto Jose until the deadline in hopes he has a better start to the season. I'd move Frazier and Robertson if the deal is right. Why don't you think Frazier's value could get much higher? Right now, there are several teams will questionable 3B situations that have decided they can't commit the money or prospects to improve. With even a slight bounce-back, Frazier's value could skyrocket come July. I feel like people are really selling him short here.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 12:22 PM) The Sox could trade Q, Frazier, Abreu and Jones if they wanted to. Robertson could've been included in the Eaton deal to who-knows what end. Melky is tougher to move, but I think he could be a salary dump if the Sox were truly motivated to tear down. But why sell low on these guys? I don't get your logic here. I'm actually glad they're not dumping these guys for salary relief.

I think for most of our guys, the trade deadline simply makes more sense. Abreu, Frazier, & Robertson are all coming off dissapointing seasons. So you can either sell low on these guys right now or hope for bounce-backs & potentially greater returns come July. Gonzalez had a nice season, but teams probably need to see those same results over a longer period of time before offering something of value. Melky really doesn't offer much surplus value and there were somewhat comparable players available in free agency for just money. Hopefily his value will go up closer to the deadline when his salary comes down and less options are out there. And finally you have Jones, who simply might be worth more in July simply because relievers typically go for more at the deadline. If he can somehow get some save opportunities before July 31st, that only helps his trade value. Honestly, the only guy that really surprises me still being here is Quintana.

Major League: Todd Frazier Minor League: Spencer Adams

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 24, 2017 -> 04:06 PM) Hahn has 2-3 years to trade Quintana if he wants to The market may very well be tapped out right now and it might actually be best to reevaluate at the trade deadline Fleecing a contender at the deadline would really feel great Quintana's value greatly reduces once he has less than three years of control. Hahn does not have two or three years to move him. It's either now, at the trade deadline, or next offseason. After that, you're almost certainly taking a lesser package.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 24, 2017 -> 10:21 AM) That is exactly what the Pirates are hoping for Get the Sox to move off of the true top tier guys in their system like Bell and Meadows, and onto lesser prospects Hahn needs to see through this and hold strong by insisting on Meadows + Glasnow/Keller + Newman/Bell/Hayes I'm not sure how you can call Bell a "true top tier guy" but not include Glasnow. You may not be high on Glasnow, but a recent poll of GMs ranked him the 2nd best pitching prospect in the game. He may not fit our needs, but he'd almost universally be considered a top tier guy by most experts and held in higher regard than Bell. Also, I think your asks above are completely unrealistic. I'd expect much lesser secondary pieces if Meadows was the headliner.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 24, 2017 -> 10:18 AM) I really think if it came to it I'd be content telling Pirates they need to go depth if they're not including Meadows or Bell. Something like Glasnow/Newman/Hayes/Diaz with the possibility of Keller would be a phenomenal deal. Which tells me I'm looking at a deal that wouldn't be offered. I'd do Glasnow/Keller/Newman/Hayes in a heartbeat, but it seems like a ridiculous ask IMO.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 24, 2017 -> 04:10 AM) http://www.royalsreview.com/2017/1/24/1436...nfirmed-reports Horrible if true. f***ing disgusting.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 08:54 PM) One guy has a reputation as being a great teammate and one has a pretty awful one Exactly, I actually view this as a plus. Sometimes you need players to police their own clubhouse and I would applaud Frazier for telling the guy who called Drake LaRoche a leader to STFU.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 08:41 PM) This will definitely help move Frazier ? I'm a huge Eaton fan, but he obviously has a questionable clubhouse reputation. I'll go out on a limb here and say that if there was any beef between Todd & Adam, Frazier wasn't the one at fault. And regardless, this will have no impact on Frazier's value.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 08:01 PM) Forsythe had put up some pretty impressive war numbers when healthy...has that Maddon/TB positionally flexibility Friedman still apparently covets, and Kiki Hernandez was brutal last year in that role. Also seems like the Twins overplayed their hand. What do they do with Dozier now? They still can't compete with him, and won't pay him to forego free agency. They'll deal Dozier at the deadline, just got to hope there are more suitors at that time.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 09:33 AM) Also what's funny is whining about the ranking when it's largely a very positive write-up. Who is whining about the ranking?

Will be there on Saturday with my three year old son. This will be his third SoxFest and hope to keep this as an annual tradition, although his mom being a diehard Cubs fan complicates matters.

Would be interested to know where Law had Schwarber ranked the year after he was drafted. I think most experts agree Collins has a better chance of sticking at catcher than Scwarber. #95 feels a bit low to me.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 10:30 PM) No way you can say Q is a top 10 pitcher in MLB unless you are just an all out slave to WAR. Nothing against him, but he's not that guy. Top 20 is a bit of a different story, I think I could come up with 20 pitchers I'd rather have in 2017 tbh. Dude, you're nuts if you think there are 20 better starters than Quintana.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 01:58 PM) I think it is getting to the point where a full tear down will not happen or was not the plan. I can see holding out on Q but I think the fact that none of the 2nd tier players have been traded is a sign that the goal was to unload Eaton and Sale. Maybe that was a compromise between Hahn wanting a full tear and KW wanting a half-tear. Which second tier guys should have been traded? No reason to sell low on Abreu, Frazier, or Robertson. No one was trading for Melky when comparable players are available via free agency for less. The only guy that would give me any cause for concern is Jones and I think an argument could made that his value increases significantly with some closing experience. A big chunk of these guys will be moved during the season. If this was another re-tool, they'd be filling some holes with legit players and reclamation projects.

QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 01:02 PM) Baseball should do it because it's the right thing to do. But they'll ultimately do it because it's the right PR move and, ultimately, they're protecting their assets. And how many workplace's employees are worth hundreds upon hundreds of millions in revenue? Certainly not you or me, so it's silly to compare MLB with the average workplace. As to your "question," the minute MLB pays me, I'll come up with a comprehensive alcohol and drug education/prevention program. Do what exactly? Hire babysitters to watch these guys? Force them to take cabs everywhere? Seriously, what is MLB "ultimately going to do" that makes any difference. Don't hide behind this "the minute MLB pays me" nonsense, use some common sense and try to come up with some ideas that could help. You'll quickly find that there isn't much of anything MLB could do that would result in material change. Again, this isn't a baseball issue, it's something much broader that's impacting numerous people in countries like the Dominican Repulbic & Venezuela.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:52 PM) They should tell them not to drive fast, and don't drink and drive. It will stop immediately. I am with you, what can be said? They have examples and it continues. I am sure they get some sort of counseling anyway, but nothing competes with the naitivity and indestructible feeling of youth. When I was 15 one of my best friends hopped in a car to go home after school with a guy who just got his license . The driver drove like an idiot, hit a light pole,and my buddy is severely brain damaged for life. Even after that, when I got my license, I drove like an idiot, drove drunk several times, and got lucky nothing happened. Now I won't drive if I have 1 beer. But most of us are in the same boat. when you are that age, bad s*** isn't going to happen to you. Even if it is happening all around you. 100% agree. Young people do stupid s*** and nothing MLB can do will stop that. And it does sound like MLB educates these guys already about various offseason dangers based on an article posted in this thread. There isn't really much else they can do.

QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:15 PM) What are the numbers of DUI deaths in other sports? And it's not their responsibility based on what other than your opinion? What employers are responsible for their employees' reckless behavior outside of the workplace? Why do you think baseball players deserve special treatment? Maybe the countries with the highest auto-based mortality rates should take some accountability here. This issue goes well beyond the world of baseball. And you still didn't answer what kind of support MLB should provide to help curb this issue.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 11:19 AM) It's true, but it's another opportunity to educate and have the discussion. After the discussion, it's up to the individual. I think your idea to educate guys on the risks is fine, but after that I don't see how MLB should have any involvement.

QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 11:08 AM) MLB needs to do what's right and actually intervene and set up a comprehensive program to educate and support the players. It's not enough to just bring em over and fill their pockets. What do you mean support the players? Young people do reckless s***, whether they're baseball players or not. MLB will never be able to change that and quite frankly it's not their responsibly to do so.